Because recitals come only once or twice a year – stage makeup skills can get a little rusty. And when are we ever taught how to properly apply makeup to a squirming six year old face?

Here are some quick and easy tips that should make recital makeup application super EASY and FUN!

Age Appropriate Makeup

Ages 3 – 6

Keep the makeup simple on these little ones!

Eyes:

• Brown eye shadow ONLY ON EYE LID blended up to crease will help frame the eye and will make their lash line look fuller. White eye shadow can be used to highlight the brow bone under the eye brow.
• No mascara necessary. No black liner as it can look harsh on these young faces.
• If they will sit still long enough, use a chocolate brown pencil liner on their upper lash line.
• Use the same brown eye shadow under the eye as a liner (much easier to apply than using an eye pencil) but start at center of eye and go to outside corner of eye – ONLY HALF WAY under eye to keep eyes looking large.

Cheeks:

• Take your blush brush and start at the hair line and sweep forward under cheek bone and swirl upward over apples. Blend upwards to make sure blush color does not go lower than lip line on the cheek. Blend well to avoid any harsh lines – no “punk rocker” cheeks.

Lips:

• Using a lip liner, fill in entire lip with liner first to keep your dancer’s lipstick on longer then apply lipstick. A rose-tone looks beautiful on this age but check with your studio owner to confirm color preference.
• This age group needs to be distracted when you are applying their makeup. So I usually ask them to tell me about their favorite dance and while their eyes are closed they are going to practice it while I count (and speedily apply makeup!)…5, 6, 7, 8…I continue to count while they do their dance in their head. If they are too young for this, I have them think of their favorite song and as long as I am not doing their lips, they can sing it for me while I do their eyes. Any kind of mental distraction will work so that they are not focused on the fact that you are poking them with makeup brushes. Try and find something that is special for you and your dancer and make it your annual “makeup” tradition.

Ages 7 – 12

Eyes:

• Same as above but go ahead and add mascara, black liquid liner on top lash line, false lashes, if studio requests them (BTW: www.JAMcosmetics.net has many how-to videos that can teach you these skills – liquid liner, false lashes, etc.) Colors can be applied more intensely. Add a gold eye shadow (JAM cosmetics Fool Me Mineral Eye Shadow) to inner corners of eye and underneath. This looks so gorgeous and makes eyes really stand out!

Cheeks:

• Same as above. You can also add some shimmer to highest part of cheekbone just under outer corner of eye to make the eyes pop and enhance the dimension of the dancer’s face.

Lips:

• Same as above.

Ages 13+

These dancers should be on their way to doing their own makeup. The big misunderstanding with this age group about stage makeup is that they often think they don’t need to practice their makeup skills in order for their stage makeup to look good. Makeup is an art, just like dance. You could not watch a pirouette once and then expect to go onstage and perform it perfectly. You must practice to dance well – you must practice to look beautiful in stage makeup.

Step 5 – order your makeup kit and start PRACTICING!!!

Other great resources for recital makeup for teachers, dancers, and moms to achieve age appropriate makeup:

• Read “Facts about Stage Makeup: what every dancer should know” – sign up for your free copy
• Read “Age Appropriate Makeup“ – The Beauty Blog… more quick and easy detailed tips for young dancer makeup
• Check out “Young Dancer Makeup Kits” from JAM Cosmetics; perfect color combinations for stage lighting and are safe for young, sensitive skin. The pressed mineral makeup colors are naturally long lasting, water-resistant, hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic.
• Watch FREE online Young Dancer how-to makeup video/face chart/printable instructions
• Get a FREE gift from JAM designed specifically for you, Mom.  Click here.

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Tags: bele, charlotte, Dance Makeup, makeup, Recital Makeup

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 9:58 am and is filed under Ballet Makeup, Jazz/Competition Makeup, Tips from the Pro’s, Young Dancers Makeup. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Tags: bele, charlotte, Dance Makeup, makeup, Recital Makeup
Posted on June 4, 2009 in Ballet Makeup, Jazz/Competition Makeup, Tips from the Pro’s, Young Dancers Makeup | 3 Comments »